Escalating violence from protests in the Islamic world over recent insults to the Prophet Mohammad resulted in at least 15 deaths today in Pakistan. By contrast, in places like Guatemala City, Myanmar, Cambodia and Belgium, hundreds gathered for the annual International Day of Peace, which according to the UN website was established in 1981 by a United Nations resolution encouraging people to work together towards peace.

Members of the municipal Social Assistence department round up crack addicts for treatment, members of PETA and Greenpeace get dressed up for their causes, the Central Committee of the Communist Party’s China Executive Leadership Academy pays a visit to Mao Zedong’s old house and more in today’s daily brief.More